5 July 2007

 KUALA LUMPUR: The price of rice is up again – this time by 10%. 

With effect from July 1, each kilogram of rice at retail outlets will likely cost an extra 50 sen to RM2, depending on the variety and grade of the grain.

This is the second time the rice price was increased this year. The last round was in April. 

A Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) marketing official confirmed that a circular had been sent to rice wholesalers, informing them of the price increase. 

“We will be making a press statement soon to announce it to the public,” the official said yesterday. 

Several wholesalers contacted confirmed receiving the price increase circular and said they were happy that Bernas had finally announced it. 

“Our profits are very low and this price increase will help us to defray the increasing cost of operations,” said a wholesaler in Rawang. 

The wholesale price of glutinous rice has been spiralling from RM1.85 per kilo early this year, to RM2.50 in February and RM2.60 in April. 

With the latest increase, glutinous rice is expected to retail around RM3.20 per kilo. 

The wholesale price for Vietnamese rice has been increased from RM1.44 per kilo to RM1.55 while Thai rice will be RM1.60 per kilo from RM1.49 per kilo in February and RM1.53 in April. 

Fragrant rice will cost 10 sen more. Its wholesale price is now RM2.45 per kilo from RM2.35 previously. 

The price of local rice will also increase. Its wholesale price now ranges from RM1.55 per kilo in Kedah and Perlis to RM1.85 in Johor and RM1.75 per kilo for other states.